Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Today is Election Day. It's mid-term time! Here's your chance to retain the current or put in new blood into your state and local government. If you don't vote then those in power will! Whether it's an election for senator, representative, governor or even city council - Exercise your right to vote today and then go enjoy a pint or two at your local pub and hope for the best. At worst, you can always vote for your favorite beer! Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Tuesday, November 4th, 2014. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Grist Brewing Co (Highlands Ranch) - Plan to stop in at Grist Brewing this Saturday, November 8th from 12pm to close for their big 1st Birthday Celebration! In honor of their 1st year of business, they will be hosting Round the Clock beer tappings, 1 per hour from 1pm to 8pm. At 1pm they'll tap a firkin of a Coconut Brown. At 2pm a re-release of their Tripel and a bottle release of the Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout. At 3pm a re-release of their White IPA. At 4pm - a re-release of their Vienna Lager. At 5pm a new Hefe-IPA small batch made with hops from Rob/Taya's house. At 6pm a release of the barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout. At 7pm a re-release of their Scottish Ale. And at 8pm a re-release of the spiced Russian Imperial Stout on nitro. Plus, the winner of their Homebrew Contest will be announced at 5pm and Churn and Burn BBQ will be on site from open to close. Stop in for a beer and a bite! [9150 Commerce Center Cir, Ste 300, Highlands Ranch, CO]River North Brewery (Denver) - [PRESS RELEASE] It’s no secret that River North Brewery likes to experiment with exotic barrels for aging beers, but every once in a while, the brewers return to their roots. On Saturday, November 15th at 1pm, River North will bring back its first barrel-aged beer, Whiskey Barrel J. Marie! “Shortly after we opened in 2012, we got our hands on some freshly emptied whiskey barrels, and loaded them with our farmhouse ale,” Head Brewer Matt Hess said. “The result not only tasted amazing, but ignited my passion for barrel-aging, and now I look forward to this beer every year.” J. Marie’s esters of apricot and peach are complimented by toasted coconut and vanilla notes from the barrels, creating a delicate and unique beer that finished at 10.2% alcohol by volume. Enjoy Whiskey Barrel J. Marie fresh or age up to two years. Both draft pours and bombers-to-go will be available at the taproom release party on November 15th. Bombers will cost $15 with a limit of three. With 135 cases total, more bottles will appear on store shelves in Colorado and Kansas City in the weeks following the release. [2401 Blake St #1, Denver, CO]

Rock Bottom Denver Downtown (Denver) - Tomorrow (Wednesday November 5th) is a BIG day for Rock Bottom in downtown Denver! They're celebrating 23 years of fresh, hand-crafted beer (and pretty good food too). Join in at 6pm for the tapping of their Anniversary Brew. John has made a Raspberry Porter for this celebration this year. They'll tap at 6pm and serve a complimentary glass until 6:30 pm. The very 1st and original Rock Bottom brewery. [1001 16th St, Unit A-100, Denver, CO]

Station 26 Brewing Co (Denver) - After a brief and unfortunate hiatus, their GABF medal winning Colorado Cream Ale is back on tap! They also recently added a Milk Stout to the menu. Come try them both in the taproom today. They're open from 2 to 10pm and Roaming Bull Brasserie is serving dinner from 4:30pm to close! [7045 E 38th Ave, Denver, CO]

Renegade Brewing Co (Denver) - Friends of Renegade - tomorrow night (Wed. Nov. 5th) they are hosting a really awesome event. The first 48 people there get $1 pints all night, but, there is a catch - you cannot drive home. The event is called "Drinks Up, Keys Down" pint night. The first 48 people in the door get a specialty pint glass filled with non-driving info and then all pint pours are only $1 as long as you do not drive. This is first come, first served starting at 2:00pm. [925 W 9th Ave, Denver, CO]

Mu Brewery (Aurora) - Have you played Cards Against Humanity so many times you've pretty much memorized the entire deck?... Well put that skill to use and come play Pictionary Against Humanity with them. It's Pictionary where you have to draw the white cards from cards against humanity deck and win some free beer. Starts TONIGHT at 6:30pm. All players will receive a 5oz beer of their choice on the house to help get those creative juices flowing. Be there! [9735 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO]

Denver Beer Co (Denver) - Just tapped - their first test batch of "Sun Drenched". It's their take on a full flavored, yet easy drinking brew which will end up being their next seasonal can release. Come down to the brewery and give it a try and let them know what you think. [1695 Platte St, Denver, CO]

Parry's Pizza (4 Denver Metro Locations) - Today, at all of their locations, they will be donating 25¢ for each beer they sell to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This is going on all day and they'd be happy to have you out, but others you may not know will be even happier. Drink for a cause. Ale Yeah! www.parryspizza.com

Nitro Fest (Longmont) - [PRESS RELEASE] Left Hand Brewing is proud to present Nitro Fest - the first exclusively nitrogenated beer fest this November 15th from 3-7pm at Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, Colorado. Nitro Fest will feature 21 of the best breweries from across the US pouring rare, never-before-seen nitro styles in celebration of Left Hand’s 21st birthday. Nitro Fest will be a lavish evening, pairing smooth & creamy ales with live performance art and fresh fare. Tickets are $50 for 4 hours of all-you-can drink nitro craft beers from the best breweries across The States. Event proceeds will benefit the Left Hand Brewing Foundation. Famous for their Nitro series including Milk Stout Nitro, Left Hand is eager to showcase a wide offering of nitrogenated beer from the craft community. Nitro Fest guests can sample hard to find styles from out of state breweries including Founders, Cigar City, Dogfish Head, Firestone Walker, Victory, Green Flash, and more. “Some of these beers will be nitrogenated for the first time, and many do not make it out of their home brewery tap room. This will be a truly unique opportunity for craft beer fans to get their hands on exclusive styles from widely acclaimed breweries.” comments Josh Goldberg, Community & Event Manager. Representing the Colorado front, will bring local presence from Oskar Blues, Breckenridge, New Belgium, Odell and more. The first annual Nitro Fest will also commemorate Left Hand’s 21st birthday, inviting guests to imbibe under a vast tent with live performance art including fire dancers, stilt walkers and aerial artists. Left Hand has helped popularized the nitrogenated category with their Nitro series collection including Milk Stout Nitro, Sawtooth Nitro, and Wake Up Dead Nitro. The addition of Nitrogen to a beer gives way to much smaller bubbles and a gentler texture, creating a smoother and creamier experience. “We're excited that nitrogenated beers are growing in popularity, and believe we’ve played a big role in making that a reality over the years. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate that fact – along with it being our 21st birthday – then welcoming so many of our brewery friends to Longmont for Nitro Fest!” comments Chris Lennert, VP of Operations. [1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO]

12Degree Brewing (Louisville) - Who doesn't love a strong, caramely quadrupel as the nights become chillier and chillier? Velour Fog Quadrupel is back on tap! Stop in for a glass. [820 Main St, Louisville, CO]

Echo Brewing Co (Frederick) - It's Trivia Tuesday starting at 7pm. Stop in early for Happy Hour from 4-6pm. Chaulkboard Gourmet Express will be on hand from 5-8pm. Also, they will be tapping their Hefeweizen once again today. [5969 Iris Pkwy, Frederick, CO]

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co (Boulder) - Did you know that Finkel & Garf has a full line of canned beers? Check them all out at these local Boulder-area stores: Hazel's Beverage World, Boulder Wine Merchant, A-Ok Liquor, and North Boulder Liquor. 8 different varieties! [5455 Spine Rd, Ste A, Boulder, CO]

Fort Collins Brewery (Ft. Collins) - [PRESS RELEASE] Fort Collins Brewery (FCB) has teamed up with Fort Collins Museum of Art (MOA) to host A Toast To Marilyn night at the museum on Friday, November 7th during First Friday Gallery Walk from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. For a $10 donation to MOA, guests will gain entrance to the Marilyn: Celebrating An American Icon exhibit along with two FCB brews, Chocolate Stout and Double Chocolate Stout. Tickets do not need to be purchased in advance, but attendance will be capped at 300 people. “We often get asked if Marilyn is on our Chocolate Stout label and even though she isn't, it’s quite similar. When the opportunity came about to partner with MOA on this exhibit we jumped at the chance to take part,” said FCB’s Marketing and PR Coordinator, Kaylee Kulich. “It’s going to be a pretty seductive night." Marilyn: Celebrating an American Icon was organized by Sairally Fine Arts & Consulting. The exhibit will be on display at MOA from November 1st to December 27th, 2014. [1020 E Lincoln Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

High Hops Brewery (Windsor) - This week's Wednesday firkin will be a Pineapple & Hatch Green Chile Beer and will tap on November 5th at 5pm. It's a light American wheat with fresh hatch green chiles and pineapple added in the secondary to create a nice sweetness and mild heat from the peppers. Also, there's a special going on this week - Buy a t-shirt and get a free flagship pint of beer! [6461 Hwy 392, Windsor, CO]

Snowbank Brewing Co (Ft. Collins) - If you voted today, come to the brewery wearing your "I Voted" sticker and get a dollar off the first pint of your choice! They've got more taphandles popping up at some of their favorite local hubs around town. Keep an eye out for more places to enjoy Smirking Lantern Pumpkin Ale as well as a handful of others. The taproom is open until 8pm tonight. Turn in your ballots and come by for a celebratory brew! [225 N Lemay Ave, Ste 1, Ft. Collins, CO]

Red Leg Brewing Co (Colorado Springs) - Just a reminder that Red Leg Brewing Company will be closed this evening for a private event, but they will re-open on Wednesday to take care of your craft beer needs. Now go out and vote if you haven't already! [4630 Forge Rd, Ste B, Colo. Springs, CO]

Bristol Brewing Co (Colorado Springs) - Come celebrate the release of "Give! Black Lager", one of Bristol's Community Ales! Here’s the fun part: For every pint of Give! Black Lager you enjoy, $2 will be earmarked for the 2014 Indy Give!﻿ campaign nonprofit of your choosing. Just make your selection on the ballot you get with your pint and leave it with your server. What’s more, the 3 nonprofits receiving the most votes will share an extra $1000 in prize money. So drink up, and Give! back Nov. 20 - Dec. 31, or till the beer runs out. The beer: Give! Black Lager is the lightest dark beer you'll ever love. Though cloaked in a deep reddish-brown hue, this beer's lager roots ensure a quaff that's clean, mild, and at 5.5% ABV, utterly sessionable. Munich and Carafa Dehusk malts impart a smooth breadiness and mellow roast flavor, while Czech and German hops weigh in gently for a brew you just have to sip to believe. [1604 S Cascade Ave, Colo. Springs, CO]

Mountains and West

Steamworks Brewing Co (Durango) - [PRESS RELEASE] Always looking to celebrate the seasons, Steamworks Brewing Co. has developed a special firkin recipe with a nod to autumn. The brewpub will roll out a “Pumpkin Spruce” firkin as part of Firkin Friday, its monthly showcase of unique hand-crafted beers. The keg will be tapped at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. “Our unique, seasonal Spruce Goose Ale served as the base for this rich and tasty holiday firkin,” said Steamworks Brew Master and Certified Cicerone® Ken Martin, noting that this year’s Spruce Goose craft beer was brewed with fresh spruce tips harvested from Ophir Pass in the San Juan Mountains. “We roasted a locally grown Chimney Rock pumpkin sprinkled with brown sugar and spices,” added Steamworks Brewer and Certified Cicerone® Spencer Roper. “Then added the caramelized mixture to this year’s batch of Spruce Goose.” The result is expected to be a craft brew with hints of pumpkin pie or perhaps banana bread, given the candy-like quality of the spruce beer base. The Firkin Friday brew is always a unique offering. A firkin is an old English unit of volume, typically a wooden cask equal to approximately one-quarter of a regular barrel, or nine/ten gallons. The word “firkin” is derived from the Middle Dutch word vierdekijn, which means “fourth” as in one-fourth the size. [801 E Second Ave, Durango, CO]

Roaring Fork Beer Co (Carbondale) - Bottles of their Hoppa Road Imperial IPA have been wax topped and are ready to find their way into your home. They are available in the tap room starting TODAY and valley-wide this week. Get yours! Share this big 8% ABV brew with a friend. [1941 Dolores Way #81623, Carbondale, CO]
___________________________________________________________________________

Like us on Facebook - There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook Page. Find recaps, special offers, and tips that you won't find on the blog.

Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.